Vikings Won`t Spook Us, Van Horne Insists

September 21, 1990|By Fred Mitchell.

Halloween is more than a month away, but the Bears` offensive line will be looking at some scary mugs when the Minnesota Vikings` front four of Keith Millard, Chris Doleman, Henry Thomas and Al Noga stare them in the face Sunday at Soldier Field.

Minnesota`s defense ranked first in the NFL last season.

``They are out to get your quarterback,`` said Bears tackle Keith Van Horne. ``Every down, that is their whole philosophy. They are extremely talented, great athletes, and they just come off the ball. They are always moving, they are stunting, they are slanting. So we really have to have our head on a swivel this week and be smart about what we are doing.``

On the run: Neal Anderson scored three touchdowns in last season`s 38-7 defeat of the Vikings. The Bears led only 10-7 going into the fourth quarter before they broke it open.

``We have been fortunate with the Bears since I have been here that we have had great running backs,`` said Van Horne, who blocked for all-time rushing leader Walter Payton in his prime.

``They always make you look good. It is no different now with Neal and Mark Green and Johnny Bailey coming up and Brad Muster and James Rouse. That obviously helps you. But I think that the way offenses are going in the league now, it is all timing.``

Too much talk: The Packers are tied with Tampa Bay, Detroit and the Vikings with 1-1 records, but they lead the league in talking big.

``Tim Harris was talking mucho noise (in Sunday`s Bears victory),`` said Bears cornerback Lemuel Stinson, who needs no prompting himself. ``I talked mucho noise with him, too. Before the game he was saying stuff like: `At you, 32.` But I like his style of play. We just had to beat him. I liked Muhammad Ali. I liked the way he talked noise.``